How to Predict Health Care Costs

Money Tip: Predict Your Health Care Costs

The whole idea of going to doctors' offices and hospitals can be daunting in itself. We've been familiar with the two since birth, but that hardly means everything related is easy to understand.

We make doctor's appointments out of need or necessity, but either way we have to pay for the services we receive. How can we prepare for these expenses when there's not a menu of medical procedures paired with going rates?

If your deductible is high it's definitely worth it to put a call in to both your doctor and your insurer and ask them for an estimate. Some larger health plans have online tools that allow participants to look up specific rates, while others may have sites where you can find the average cost in your area. As a last resort, HealthGrades.com generates medical-cost reports for $8.

I have a high deductable..It hurts! I have a few joint issues I should go to the doc for but am waiting until I get married and on my hubbies plan with a low deductible.
I went to the doc last fall just to get an annual check up. I pay 10% of the costs...It cost me $600 for meeting with the doc for 10 mins and standard blood tests. Crazy...

I have a high deductable..It hurts! I have a few joint issues I should go to the doc for but am waiting until I get married and on my hubbies plan with a low deductible.I went to the doc last fall just to get an annual check up. I pay 10% of the costs...It cost me $600 for meeting with the doc for 10 mins and standard blood tests. Crazy...